program installed on user's machine as opposed to a program that runs remotely and is accessed via an internet browser.
1
vote
1answer
93 views
Time-consuming “Request - response” steps in desktop application
I prototype OLAP-analytics desktop application, that contains a lot of screens, that generate reports. Common process of such generation is:
Users sets up analytics parameters (period, data segment ...
6
votes
1answer
279 views
Where can I find an official or recommended Windows desktop application user interface usability and style guide?
I've heard there is a OSX User Interface Usability and Style Guide since the 90's. I never heard of an equivalent book for Windows. Is there any?
11
votes
7answers
441 views
Saving & restoring undo stack — good or bad?
In a sovereign desktop app with multi-level undo/redo (ie Photoshop, Word, etc), would being able to save and restore the undo history of a file with the file itself be a good thing or a bad thing? My ...
7
votes
1answer
160 views
Should filtering of data have an effect on the filter criteria as well?
My quesion is about filtering of data in a Windows desktop application.
I have a large amount of data coming from a database (> 900.000 records). The records are shown in a classic listcontrol (rows ...
2
votes
1answer
114 views
Desktop application problem: how to present a new option without confusing existing users
Background:
Our user runs an internet shop, based on a SoS platform we provide. In particular we provide a desktop app (Windows), which basically stacks up the shelves of this store by uploading ...
2
votes
5answers
358 views
What are the benefits to software that has no installation wizard?
There are some Windows software packages out there (ie Eclipse, VLC prior to its current version) that do not rely on an installation wizard. Instead of using a wizard there is simply a folder with ...
3
votes
1answer
324 views
How can the Copy and Replace message box be improved?
I have a program (running on Windows) that I am developing that has a file and folder page as part of it that is effectively copying the Windows format. I allow users to copy, cut, paste, delete and ...
10
votes
5answers
266 views
Should a special slider value be implemented with a checkbox or not?
Coming up with a title for this question was difficult, but hopefully my detailed explanation will explain exactly what I'm trying to figure out.
I am creating a dialog box for a GIMP plugin that ...
3
votes
2answers
118 views
Displaying multiple large images at a time
I'm developing a desktop application which will show details of various types of aircraft. Previously, the application looked like this:
When the user mouses over the image in the top right, arrows ...
2
votes
3answers
306 views
Configuration form with multiple steps
I am working on converting a winforms application to WPF. So, we are also trying to make sure this is good from a UX point of view in the process.
I have a configuration form that I am not sure if I ...
4
votes
3answers
270 views
Modal popup position
Being a Mac OS X user, I've implemented a popup engine which slides from top (transition is about 300 ms, see video) and stays hooked to the top.
Most people (all developers at the moment) say ...
3
votes
5answers
218 views
Can text area be used as error/warning/notification output?
Problem.
While developing an enterprise application I faced a problem of communicating various error/warning/notification messages to the user while they are filling out some form or performing other ...
3
votes
3answers
315 views
Using a ribbon as navigation
Every use of the ribbon I have seen so far single panel 'canvas' programs, where grouped functionality is in the ribbon.
I have been doing some analysis on some back end software which my company ...
5
votes
5answers
231 views
Scaling an Address Form on Resize
My application has a form for filling in the names and addresses of a donor. Each donor gets a closable tab and each tab has an address form.
The problem is that the application runs in a regular ...
3
votes
4answers
381 views
Keyboard shortcut design methodology (for keyboard and touch screen)
What sort of methodologies should I employ to choose which letters and shifting keys to assign to different functions?
Is underlining the accelerator letter the best practice, or should I spell out ...
33
votes
9answers
3k views
What are the drawbacks of designing a Windows application to look like a Mac application?
I'm working with a company whose product is a Microsoft Windows application.
As the UI/UX designer (and as a Mac user) I want to redesign the application so it is more visually appealing.
Are there ...
1
vote
2answers
123 views
How Do I Save Screen Real Estate While Still Giving My Application The Power It Needs?
I've developed an application that throughout the stages has evolved twice. The purpose of the application itself is display meaningful information in the smallest amount of space possible. The ...
0
votes
3answers
143 views
good reason/guideline/heuristic/principle, according to GUI design pattern, to align maximise, minimise and close button on the left side in Ubuntu
Since Ubuntu 10.04 (and maybe some other Linux versions), we sometimes see the maximize, minimize and close buttons on the:
left side:
and sometimes on the right side: .
So, can someone explain ...
5
votes
3answers
181 views
Accessibility for non-web desktop applications
For web-applications I'm used to using WCAG 2.0 as a specification to provide to developers and 3rd parties who are developing websites to use as a guide.
I now have a 3rd party supplying a Windows ...
10
votes
2answers
416 views
Icon-only navigation bar for a desktop application?
I am working on a groupware application running as a desktop application (not in the browser). I wanted to keep the interface really simple and minimalistic so my users will not get distracted by a ...
8
votes
1answer
311 views
Prominent Notification Areas in a Desktop Application
I am working on ux for a desktop application for users. I am looking to find out more information, answers, best practices when it comes to handling notifications of actions and other alerts within a ...
5
votes
4answers
427 views
How to handle Desktop Application frame sizing/scaling
I am working on a new project which is focused on a desktop application for users. I am looking to find out more information, answers, best practices when it comes to handling sizing and scaling with ...
3
votes
2answers
217 views
Should I Stop Using A Currency Symbol?
I'm upgrading a desktop application that currently displays the currency symbol anytime money values are displayed or printed. A friend of my from the UK told me "Whenever British people see software ...
4
votes
2answers
305 views
Usability of window docking
I'm working on a WPF desktop application. A stakeholder requested window docking (like Visual Studio 2010) for managing multiple windows inside the application. This option makes sense for the design ...
6
votes
5answers
911 views
Replacement for long drop-down list
I'm currently working on a part of our application in which the user edits a document. Part of the application allows the user to input certain "parts." We've implemented this as a couple of drop ...
3
votes
4answers
464 views
A Web Enabled Desktop App
So you know how the whole web 2.0 moment is about moving native desktop software to the cloud in the form of web applications, with UI being rendered through a web browser, data being pushed through ...
4
votes
4answers
254 views
Software UI: presentation and availability of optional information
I want to make the user of my software program feel comfortable with the new concepts being put before them. As part of this approach I have adopted the "information button" concept for most of the ...
0
votes
0answers
123 views
What do you understand by “iPhone feeling”? [closed]
I am having a hard time working together with marketing people when designing a new Desktop application.
I am reading through their specifiations document for the application. Let me quote what it ...
8
votes
10answers
612 views
How can I deal with too much blank space in a desktop application?
Usually people are concerned with too much data/interface, and not enough screen real estate, but I'm in the opposite situation.
The desktop application I'm working on has several tabs for entering ...
5
votes
3answers
511 views
Options, preferences, settings, configurations: What to call them in my application?
I've seen a lot of different applications use a lot of different terminology for the part of the application that lets you change the settings. But are there any advantages/conventions as to using one ...
2
votes
5answers
411 views
What is the best way to hint that a table cell is editable?
I have a table with data, with several columns. This is a table used mostly for reading, with the possibility for a user to occasionally adjust some values. Most columns are informative only, and some ...
0
votes
0answers
83 views
How do you know if the application you built is really useful to users before investing too much money in the process? [closed]
Can somebody explane to me how to do a survey to know the needs of potential users? Do you have always the time and the money to do so? Is it possible to know if an application if a "winner" before ...
6
votes
3answers
136 views
Getting “empty” views right
In many applications, the first view a user will see is an empty view. A view with no data in it.
Let's say for example that we have a desktop project management application, then the first view ...
3
votes
3answers
155 views
Is it better to use generic icons for 3rd party branded software or system specific icons?
I am developing a program that saves Word documents.
We develop on Mac OSX (in a Virtual Machine) and as such the Word Icon we have used is the Mac-specific word icon (which makes no sense when ...
8
votes
5answers
3k views
Desktop software design patterns
There are a lot of resources on the web about web applications design patterns, but only a few about desktop applications.
And this is quite strange as most of the business targeted software is ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Responsive web design technique in desktop application?
What do you think about using responsive web design techniques in a desktop application?
We need more space for large data and since all monitors today are widescreen, it could be good practice I ...
-1
votes
5answers
261 views
Appropriate Icon for “Load” Button? [closed]
I'm tasked with redoing part of the UI in one of our desktop applications. I've specifically been asked to replace a "Load" button with an icon. Are there any conventions for this style of icon? ...
1
vote
2answers
136 views
Authentication pop up on a desktop app: what if it is much bigger than main app window?
I am working on a desktop app that requires authentication. It allows federated authentication using different services, Google among them. Most probably, we'll use a pop up with a browser window to ...
3
votes
1answer
108 views
Best Practise for contextual properties at Desktop App
I'm working on a desktop application - a photovoltaic planner - where you can layout your solar panels on a roof very similar to graphic programs like InDesign or Illustrator.
Actually, its quite ...
3
votes
3answers
391 views
Should I redesign my desktop application so it looks and acts like a website?
I'm in the process of redesigning one of my older desktop applications. The original design I did was based on a 640 X 480 screen. Times have changed and there several different screen resolutions ...
2
votes
3answers
194 views
Ask to show tutorial on first start?
The help system of my desktop application contains a "first steps" tutorial to introduce the general workflow and some terms. The tutorial can be found directly in the main menu and in the help ...
1
vote
2answers
200 views
Dialog asking to save changes when doing a selection change?
In our desktop application we have a viewer which shows the content of a selected item (both, viewer and list, are located in the same window). When the user selects a different item, its content will ...
1
vote
2answers
82 views
Which input layout for choosing between Option1, Option2 and (Option1 or Option2, dynamically)
One setting in our app has to be as follows:
For a certain scenario, the user select whether he wants:
Always use option X
Or always use option Y
Or, depending on a dynamic flag, use X or Y (he ...
46
votes
9answers
4k views
Undo History - Why limit it?
Why do most applications have fairly limited 'undo' history functionality?
I've been caught out on multiple occasions (granted its technically my fault) where I've needed to undo a number of changes ...
7
votes
3answers
726 views
What is the ideal height of a button in regular desktop applications?
On most GUI creator (I just checked Qt Creator and Flex Builder), it seems the default button height is about 22 pixels. This is what I use for most desktop applications I create except those I make ...
3
votes
1answer
265 views
What is the best way to display per-tab commands or actions?
I am working on a multiple document interface Windows application. We're using tabs to represent open documents for editing.
I have three levels of possible commands:
Global
Per-tab
Per-sub-tab
...
2
votes
5answers
652 views
Select item from a list to be added to another list
I have an application implemented with Java Swing. The main view of the applications is divided in a left side and a right side. The top of the right side contains a SearchField, and a list of search ...
1
vote
2answers
118 views
Should our application ask for users master password when needed or at application start?
Our application may contact different servers using background processes to update local data. Some servers require authentication, others don't. When accessing the first time a server, our ...
1
vote
2answers
279 views
User Interface for Product Catalog
I am trying to figure out which is the best way to implement a product catalog editor for desktop application. The products arent too many about max 100 i believe.
I have figured out this model.At ...
1
vote
1answer
284 views
Select/unselect list items using checkbox or button [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Check all / uncheck all checkboxes with regards to usability
For a couple of applications one can find a checkbox to select/unselect all items in a list. As soon as you ...
